2011 TwinForce F-150 EPA figures

[Z71_Silvy]

How, exactly, are those tests performed by the EPA. I've never looked into the actual procedure.

Ok...here is what I found on www.fueleconomy.gov:

Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

In the laboratory, the vehicle's drive wheels are placed on a machine called a dynamometer that simulates the driving environment—much like an exercise bike simulates cycling.

The energy required to move the rollers can be adjusted to account for wind resistance and the vehicle's weight.

On the dynamometer, a professional driver runs the vehicle through a standardized driving routine, or schedule, which simulates “typical” trips in the city or on the highway.
Video Link
Link to Testing Schedules

Each schedule specifies the speed the vehicle must travel during each second in the test.

Right: The driver watches a computerized display that shows his driving statistics compared to the specified schedule.
Video Link

Measuring Fuel Use

For vehicles using carbon-based fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel, natural gas, etc.), a hose is connected to the tailpipe to collect the engine exhaust during the tests.

The carbon in the exhaust is measured to calculate the amount of fuel burned during the test. This is more accurate than using a fuel gauge.

This method does not work for vehicles using non-carbon-based fuels, such as fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles.

LINK

 

[Z71_Silvy]

I'm not sure how you can claim that the EPA tests rule out all variables if the tests are being performed and submitted by the manufacturers independently and then "certified" by the EPA. That's HORRIBLE experimental design.

Not really. The EPA provides the testing parameters, and the manufactures do the grunt work.

It's like in science class when the lab was all spelled out on paper by the teacher and you just had to go do it, create a report and then submit your findings.

If the EPA numbers are consistently higher than the actual average of the general public, clearly they need to change the methods being used. If it averaged out and was a wash, that'd be one thing, but that's not the case.

How do we know that's not the case? I'd say my mileage averages out between summer and winter...

 

[daddy]

I'm not sure how you can claim that the EPA tests rule out all variables if the tests are being performed and submitted by the manufacturers independently and then "certified" by the EPA. That's HORRIBLE experimental design.

Not really. The EPA provides the testing parameters, and the manufactures do the grunt work.

It's like in science class when the lab was all spelled out on paper by the teacher and you just had to go do it, create a report and then submit your findings.

You do realize how insane that sounds, right?

Yes, Mr. Clemens, please run your own steroid screening and then give me the results and we'll go with that.



I'll skip the other point because it's purely speculation on both of our parts.

 

[nubuilder]

On the subject of EPA ratings, they changed how they did them in '06 or '07. I thought they became much more accurate. At the time they changed them, you could click "see original rating" to view the original rating. Basically, they dropped the ratings of old (if you consider '05 to be old) vehicles by 2 or 3 for both city and highway.

 

[Matt_]

I don't know about you guys.... but im looking forward to taking a spin in one to see what 420 lb-ft of torque feels like @ 2500 RPM in a 1500 series truck.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed... hoping this is the end of the "HP" wars and the beginning of good (usable) engine technology

I'd also image that there was some major push by program managers to get this engine released. I very much DOUBT that this first iteration is as good as its going to get.

A step in the right direction IMO

 

[nubuilder]

I don't know about you guys.... but im looking forward to taking a spin in one to see what 420 lb-ft of torque feels like @ 2500 RPM in a 1500 series truck.

It should be sweet!! I'm betting the vehicle a dealer uses for test drives is going to need new tires fast

 

[Z71_Silvy]

You do realize how insane that sounds, right?

Yes, Mr. Clemens, please run your own steroid screening and then give me the results and we'll go with that.

To be honest? No, I don't. The test procedure that all manufactures MUST use to get their vehicles federalized is a federal law.

 

[Z71_Silvy]

I don't know about you guys.... but im looking forward to taking a spin in one to see what 420 lb-ft of torque feels like @ 2500 RPM in a 1500 series truck.

It should be sweet!! I'm betting the vehicle a dealer uses for test drives is going to need new tires fast

Not with all the nannies they have in vehicles these days.

I was forced to drive our Sergeants 2010 Expedition one snowstorm and the traction control drove me up the wall. What once was a predictable RWD vehicle became almost as bad as a FWD vehicle in the snow. It was terrible.

I was longing for a Crown Vic.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

I don't know about you guys.... but im looking forward to taking a spin in one to see what 420 lb-ft of torque feels like @ 2500 RPM in a 1500 series truck.

It should be sweet!! I'm betting the vehicle a dealer uses for test drives is going to need new tires fast

Not with all the nannies they have in vehicles these days.

I was forced to drive our Sergeants 2010 Expedition one snowstorm and the traction control drove me up the wall. What once was a predictable RWD vehicle became almost as bad as a FWD vehicle in the snow. It was terrible.

I was longing for a Crown Vic.

Can't turn it off on those like a GM?

 

[Z71_Silvy]

I don't know about you guys.... but im looking forward to taking a spin in one to see what 420 lb-ft of torque feels like @ 2500 RPM in a 1500 series truck.

It should be sweet!! I'm betting the vehicle a dealer uses for test drives is going to need new tires fast

Not with all the nannies they have in vehicles these days.

I was forced to drive our Sergeants 2010 Expedition one snowstorm and the traction control drove me up the wall. What once was a predictable RWD vehicle became almost as bad as a FWD vehicle in the snow. It was terrible.

I was longing for a Crown Vic.

Can't turn it off on those like a GM?

IDK...I didn't pay too much attention. There may have been a button behind the computer/radio/lights control/etc.